Scouts honour for Heather

Annabelle Heather has been awarded the prestigious Australian Scout Medallion. Rob Williams

AN IPSWICH teenager has been awarded the pinnacle prize for scouting, the rarest and highest honour available to a scout.

Annabelle Heather, 14, was "over the moon" with the award, for which she has dedicated years of hard work to achieve.

The Redbank Plains girl said ever since she joined scouts when she was eight she had her eyes set on the Australian Scout Medallion.

"I did everything I could do to get it," she said yesterday.

"I wanted it from the first day I did scouts and did a lot of badge work to get there."

Annabelle's mother, Tracey, said she was thrilled with her daughter's determination.

"She's been given a lot of extra opportunities out of scouts," Mrs Heather said.

"She's worked hard too - and so have we, dropping her here, there and everywhere."

Annabelle, a St Mary's College student, said she preferred scouts over girl guides because of the mix of boys and girls.

"It also gets you out of your comfort zone and you get to meet more people," she said.

Annabelle hopes to one day be an "actor or someone that speaks out for the community".

To earn the Australian Scout Medallion a scout must participate in a scout leadership course after completion of the pioneer badge, demonstrate an active leadership role in scouting and achieve the adventurer cord.